But, as I sat at my dining room table before my laptop this morning catching up on the news, checking e-mail, and posting on Facebook, the wind began to build. Strong, hot blasts of air forced wind chimes hanging from the arbor to clang in continuous cacophony while cushions blew from patio furniture and scattered about the lawn with so many fallen leaves. Then, the plaintive wail of sirens and the distant, buzzing of helicopters, interrupted familiar neighborhood sounds. My stomach dropped. “Oh no,” I thought. Several minutes later, my husband called to say there was, indeed, a fire burning in Moorpark and to be aware of some road closures. It seemed like deja vu all over again. Back in December, 2007, Moorpark was the site of the Shekell/Happy Camp wildfire that burned more than 13,000 acres and destroyed 8 structures. That fire was not the result of arson but of high winds and displaced power lines. I will never forget driving home to Moorpark from nearby Thousand Oaks along Highway 23 North. Fire could be seen licking the edges of the surrounding hills, while smoke and ash floated through the air and discolored the sky in a brown hazy smog.

So, here we are again. Our local firefighters have not really even had a chance to catch their breath since the Station Fire, which is now about 94% contained, according to officials. While never threatening Moorpark, the arson Station Fire, which has been burning for the past 28 days, is near full containment. But, many of our own local area firefighters have only just recently returned to Moorpark after battling that blaze. At last report, several hundred or more firefighters are now battling this new wildfire, which started in Fillmore and is blowing toward Moorpark, according to Ventura County Fire Department spokesman Bill Nash. Officially named the Guiberson Fire, it has already scorched some 6000 acres at last report. Despite what my husband says, I HATE to be right about this. But, I’m no clairvoyant. This is so predictable. High winds, severe heat, and low humidity is the recipe for just such a natural disaster. But, as it turns out my prediction is only partially accurate. Fire did indeed follow, but the Guiberson wildfire is not the result of arson, but of spontaneous combustion of manure at a local ranch. For real. According to the Los Angeles Times, farming communities are familiar with manure fires, but this is truly the first time I’ve ever heard of a fire emanating from this source.

No matter the cause, California must be home to the hardest working firefighters in America. How can “thank you” be enough? Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your families.